“Bleak Night” American DVD Cover
Director: Yoon Sung-hyun
Writer: Yoon Sung-hyun
Cast: Lee Je-Hun, Seo Jun-Young, Park Jeong-Min, Jo Seong-Ha, Bae Jae-ki, Lee Cho-hee
Running Time: 117 min.
By HKFanatic
Over the last decade, Korean cinema has made great strides into the Western market thanks to its tendency for big-budget commercial spectacle and ultra-violent revenge movies. “Bleak Night” is not one of those films. This nuanced and haunting story about three high school friends began as a film school project for writer/producer/director Yoon Sung-hyun, but soon gained global attention after appearing in international film festivals. And it’s no wonder why: “Bleak Night” is beautifully structured and powerfully acted. It’s not just one of the best films of the past three years but one of the best Korean films of all time. This is cinema that leaves a mark.
The plot focuses on three boyhood friends: Lee Je-hoon stars as the defacto leader Ki-tae; Seo Jun-young as his longtime confidant Dong-yoon; and Park Jung-min as ‘Becky,’ the relative newcomer to the group. While at first these three Junior year students seem thick as thieves, soon enough the cracks and strains begin to show. Their relationship is tested by schoolyard posturing, petty jealousy, and a general inability – or unwillingness – to express themselves. Through the lens of his high school setting, director Yoon Sung-hyun is able to tackle a wider array of issues including bullying, suicide, and the pressure society places on individuals to fit in.
“Bleak Night” shares some thematic lineage with Japanese films like “All About Lily Chou-Chou” and “Blue Spring,” which also focus on bullying and teenage violence. “Bleak Night” is perhaps more restrained than those films, at least in terms of what it depicts onscreen, but it is no less affecting. It’s clear that Lee Je-hoon is a young actor destined for greatness; while he’s serving his mandatory military service at the moment, “Bleak Night” and his supporting turn in “The Front Line” show he has the potential to be one of Korea’s leading actors. He takes a character who could have easily been loathsome in Ki-tae and makes him three-dimensional, even sympathetic. Likewise, it’s fair to expect great things from Seo Jun-young, who makes a strong impression as the ‘conscience’ of the group.
The screenplay to this film has a unique ‘middle/beginning/end’ structure that can be a little difficult to follow at first, but it’s one other reason why the film rewards multiple viewings. The unconventional structure helps to underline how tragedy and memory can make time impermanent; towards the end of the film, Seo Jun-young’s character seems to float between the past and present as he remembers the friendship he once had. As in “All About Lily Chou-Chou,” a vacation trip is both an oasis of happiness amidst the pain of the characters’ lives and the beginning of where it all went wrong for these young people. Director Yoon Sung-hyun’s use of post-industrial locations – slate gray apartment complexes, fuming smokestacks, and empty trainyards – depicts a different side of South Korea than we typically see in the movies. The extremely minimalist use of music throughout “Bleak Night” also adds to the film’s stark, sobering atmosphere.
5 Points’ Pictures DVD release includes the option for multi-colored subtitles, which helps in a film where characters’ dialogue frequently overlaps. In addition, there is a short essay from the director, detailing his inspiration for the movie, as well as bios for the director and cast. The picture quality is superb despite being in standard definition; it’s reassuring to see a prestige foreign film like this treated with a respectful localization. If you’re a fan of the ‘teen angst’ genre or simply in search of a good, thought-provoking drama, then “Bleak Night” should not be missed.
HKFanatic’s Rating: 10/10
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